The Light-Kill Affair (10 page)

Suddenly, Illya stepped out of the direct beam of the light.

Solo held his breath, waiting for Illya to bring the light-gun up to kill him.

Illya Kuryakin nodded—and winked.

THREE

ILLYA PUSHED open the cell door, jerked his head, motioning Solo ahead of him.

In the corridor Illya Kuryakin moved woodenly. Sweating, Napoleon Solo wanted to run, but knew better He kept his pace to that set by Illya.

Suddenly Dr. Nesbitt's voice crackled wildly on the intercom and Solo knew the scientist was watching them on his screen.

Nesbitt screamed. "Guard! You fool! What are you doing? Where are you taking the prisoner?"

Indian Joe's voice crackled across Dr. Nesbitt's on the inter com. "The guard can't hear you, sir—or obey you."

"Stop them!" Dr. Nesbitt shouted.

From the lab-office, two guards raced, following the white-smocked Indian.

"This is it," Solo said from the corner of his mouth.

"Keep walking," Illya ordered.

Behind them, Indian Joe forgot his calm image. He yelled. "Escape. Escape. Stop them. Kill. Kill!"

Illya Kuryakin turned in that wooden manner, lifted the light-gun, pressed the trigger.

Holding his breath, Solo saw Joe and the three guards stagger and fall under the power of the portable light-gun.

"Now run," Illya said.

Solo didn't wait. Illya followed, carrying the gun. He stopped twice, firing along the corridor. At the down exit, Solo pushed through the door. He was half way down the steps before Illya came through and moved after him.

The pulsing of the huge generators reached up to them.

The flat-eyed men working in the engine room did not even look up at them as they ran out on the catwalk above the large turbines.

Illya Kuryakin lifted the light-gun, fired it.

The explosion rocked the engine room.

Darkness was instantaneous and complete. Illya snapped on the small light above the visor of his green cap. This was the only glow in the cavernous dark.

They ran back along the cat walk and up the steps. The building was in complete darkness.

As they came out into the corridor they heard Dr. Nesbitt's voice raging over the intercom. "My plants! The light! My plants!"

The man was beside himself with panic. Madness was in his voice, now completely unmasked.

Solo said, "We have to get Bikini. It may be too late already. Those hellish plants—"

Illya said, "Easier said than done, my friend. But we'll give it a try."

Dr. Nesbitt screamed, "You fools! You can never escape. Come with me. I can make you kings among men! As for the foolish girl—forget her. She is dead. Or she will be before you can do any thing about it! I will save you! I can make you great. I can—"

Illya said, "You are as nutty as a fruitcake, professor. Sorry to be blunt about it, old man, but good old THRUSH sold you down the creek and you can never row back. You're done, old boy. Can't say as how I'm very sorry."

Solo said, "This girl may be dying while you're talking, Illya. Let's go!"

"This way," Illya said. They ran along the corridor, Illya's small cap light bouncing ahead of them.

At door six, Hothouse One, Solo said. "The door, Illya."

Illya turned the light-gun on it.

Solo thrust it open and they ran inside.

The place was a confusion of wild rustling, writhing in the dark ness.

"Bikini!" Solo yelled.

She screamed his name from somewhere in the darkness.

"We'll have to shoot and hack our way in to her," Illya said.

A burst from the light-gun withered plants in a wide perimeter before them. The illumination showed them Bikini caught in the constricting grasp of huge branches.

"Glass!" Solo said.

Almost in the same instant, Illya Kuryakin fired, shattering one of the walls.

Solo caught up a shard and cut his way through the thick growth toward Bikini, who sobbed his name.

Illya fired short bursts of the light-gun, withering away, the plants around them as they had burned, petrifying in the jungle.

Solo cut away the last limb holding Bikini. She sagged gratefully into his arms, grasping him convulsively around the waist.

"Let's split this scene," Illya said. "They won't get the generators started, but they might get the guards out."

They went through the gun-shattered glass wall into the walled garden. Here the night was gray.

There was illumination enough to see Dr. Nesbitt standing out there with a light-gun, barring the way.

"Hit the dirt!" Solo warned. He sprang forward, carrying Bikini with him.

Dr. Nesbitt fired the light-gun, screaming like a banshee.

Illya sank to his knees, taking his time. He leveled the gun, pressed the trigger.

They saw Dr. Nesbitt drop the light-gun, stagger to his knees and pitch forward again.

Solo was already getting up, clinging to Bikini's hand, taking her with him.

With Napoleon Solo and Bikini Collins just ahead of him, Illya Kuryakin ran toward the exit, the canyon, the way out.

Behind him he heard running men, mindless howling, and the sharp sound of the burst of a gun. Illya didn't know whether the guards were after them or not, long ago programmed to foil any escape. He wasn't taking any chances.

He paused long enough to send one last burst of flame toward the darkened laboratory, and then he ran faster, into the freedom that was ahead.